Charter school officials defend the eye-popping compensation of their leaders. They note that running a charter school is hard work - the hours and school year are longer than public schools and, for devoted educators, the job can take over their lives.

It's also challenging to bring previously underserved students up to speed - particularly, they say, because charters receive less public funding per student than neighborhood schools.

"This lack of funding equity requires charter school network boards to hire executives who are capable of consistently producing outstanding educational as well as fund-raising results," said Village board chairman Ed Lewis, noting that no public funds went toward Kenny's salary.

"I have had a chance to see a wide range of executives across various private businesses, public companies and other charitable organizations, and Eva is truly extraordinary," said Success board member John Petry.

Also, 10 of the city's charter schools are managed by four for-profit companies. Their executives' salaries were not readily available, although many are collecting sizable fees.

At least two charter principals made more than $200,000 in a year. Carl Icahn's Jeffrey Litt pulled in $235,350, which he noted included bonuses for opening new schools.

Though no public school principals make as much, their average salary was slightly higher - $124,230 - than the $120,454 average for charter school principals, a database compiled by the Web site Gotham Schools shows.

"We want more Christina Tettonises and Jeff Litts," he said. "She may be one of the most underpaid principals in the country. If I had to pay her double what I'm paying her, I would do it and then some."

Beginning with Children Foundation's Mary Clarke Corcoran may have set the record for charter school officials in 2006, collecting $650,000 in compensation partly deferred from previous years.

That didn't stop her from collecting nearly $200,000 as a consultant in 2007. Two other foundation officials collected more than $200,000 in 2007.

"By the time ... Corcoran left the Beginning with Children family last year, the proficiency rate for BwCCS graduates on NYS exams had risen by over 20 percentage points," board chairman Kevin White said.